Court To Get Update On Reform Efforts And New Orleans Jail

NEW ORLEANS (AP) — Continuing problems at the New Orleans jail — including three suicides in less than two years — are up for discussion before a federal judge.

U.S. District Judge Lance Africk is scheduled to preside over Thursday's status hearing on court-backed reforms that were ordered in 2013.

Progress on those reforms has been slow, even after prisoners were moved into a modern new facility in September 2015; and, after hundreds were farmed out to other facilities while a new director works to improve staffing and training.

A report last month by experts assigned to monitor the jail said it remains violent and dangerous.

Troubling incidents included last October's suicide by a 15-year-old murder suspect. Another inmate suicide was reported last month.

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